Trevecca’s Cinderella Run Ends: West Alabama Wins GSC Championship, 5-3

Photo / Gregory Ruff - Trevecca Athletics

OXFORD, AL - A magical stretch at the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championships came to a heartbreaking end for the Trevecca Nazarene University softball team on Saturday.

After entering the tournament as the final team to make the field, the Trojans—coached by Ben Tyree—kept finding ways to survive and advance through the first three days, earning themselves a chance to keep their season alive. But in the GSC title game, the clock struck midnight on the Cinderella story.

Trevecca finished 22-19, falling to West Alabama in the championship, 5-3, as the Tigers (now 43-12-1) claimed the conference crown.

A Title Game That Started Rough, Then Tightened Late

Bottom of the 1st: Trevecca began strong with Addy Grace Summers reaching on a single, but a fielder’s choice ended the threat. The Tigers answered with a RBI sequence—highlighted by a sacrifice fly that pushed the lead to 2-0—and followed with more damage to make it 3-0.

Bottom of the 2nd: West Alabama added three more runs with two outs, using well-placed hits to extend the advantage to 5-0.

Top of the 4th: The Trojans found their footing against UWA starter Megan Roe. Shay Hollingsworth led off with a single, and after a key double by Sarah Kinderdine, Annalise Mecklenberg delivered a two-run hit to pull Trevecca within 5-2.

Top of the 5th: Kyleigh Burgett doubled and later scored on an error, shrinking the gap to 5-3.

Top of the 6th: Trevecca loaded the base paths with two walks and got the tying runs aboard—but couldn’t drive them across, ending the biggest opportunity of the game.

All-Tournament Honors for Trevecca

Despite the title-game setback, Trevecca earned recognition across the tournament:

All-Tournament Team: Annabelle Ellis, Brianna Asmondy, Sarah Nicholson, and Bailey Goad

Ellis, Asmondy, and Nicholson each logged strong tournament production, while Goad stood out with a dominant run in the circle (including 19 strikeouts).

The loss ends Trevecca’s 2026 season and closes the careers of five seniors: Kylie Chetakian, Sarah Kinderdine, Sarah Nicholson, Kyleigh Burgett, and Brianna Asmondy.

For head coach Ben Tyree, the season ends just two wins shy of 600 for his career.